A Quick Trip East
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We are in the process of completely updating the website over the coming months so we will be able to provide an in depth look into the #56 late model’s race results along with information from activities at the shop. Additional team updates can also be found on King Motor Sport’s website. http://www.kingbrosracing.com/

Midwest Tour
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BRISTOLVILLE, OH – May 30, 2009 – When the hauler pulled out of the shop on May 15, they were scheduled to race five times in five different states over just a short nine day time span.

Rain curtailed the first night’s activity at Lawrenceburg Speedway in Indiana on Saturday May 16. With the pit area being saturated and more rain in the forecast, it was not a tough decision. Track promoter, Dave Rudisell, plans on talking to WoO officials about possibly scheduling a return later in the year.

Heading northwest to Lincoln Speedway in Illinois, the sun was shining and better track conditions were anticipated. Russ qualified twenty-eighth of the forty-three cars that were on hand. The field was again loaded with teams from other touring series as well as several strong independent races.

             Lincoln Speedway action images courtesy of Jimmy Dearing                                  Other images by Sis King

Slotted into the fourth heat, Russ both started and finished in the seventh position. With a sixth place start in the B-Main, transferring into the feature was within reach. Unfortunately Jordan Bland crashed into the outside wall and came back down the track into Russ’ rear quarter damaging the wheel, tire and suspension. With the strong field, none of the Rookie of the Year contenders was able to make the feature and Russ held onto the thirteenth spot in the WoO Points Championship race.

Friday May 26 was a trip to U.S. 36 Raceway in Cameron, MO. A smaller field of thirty cars was signed in for the night. The #56 late model qualified twenty-second but managed a sixth place finish in the heat race. This was good enough to gain an automatic transfer spot into the feature. Russ was the only ROY driver to transfer though his heat. He finished tenth after starting fourteenth in the main event. In addition to the Top 10 finish, he also took home the Rookie of the Race and WoO Bonus Bucks awards.

Mother Nature once again crept into the picture as more wet weather canceled the racing at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA. “Everyone with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series was looking forward to running at one of the most beautiful tracks in the country,” said WoO LMS director Tim Christman. “Unfortunately, we just can’t seem to catch a break from Mother Nature lately. It’s a huge disappointment when we get rained out after waking up to a forecast that shows no rain expected.”

The team then turned north to Charter Raceway Park in Beaver Dam, WI for the last event of this portion of the WoO Late Model Series Tour.

Russ qualified twenty-fourth of the thirty-two racers in the Charter Raceway pits. He was unable to better his sixth starting spot in heat race action, also finishing sixth. Unfortunately, while looking for improvement in the B-Main, the engine expired on lap seven. The crew quickly pulled the back-up car out of the hauler and a provisional was used to enter the feature. After starting on the tail, Russ advanced to finish nineteenth.

Heading back home found Russ still thirteenth in the point’s race and second in the Rookie of the Year standings.

Up Next:
The King Motor Sports team will be heading east for the next series of race action. Thursday May 28 is scheduled for Delaware International Speedway in Delmar, DE. Hagerstown Speedway in Maryland and Tyler County Speedway in Middlebourne, WV are on the docket for Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, and Keizer Aluminum Wheels.

For additional information or to inquire about motorsport’s marketing opportunities with King Bros Racing, please contact Sis King (330)727-0565.

Doused by Rain, Yet Again
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BRISTOLVILLE, OH – May 7, 2009 – Racers are an anxious bunch and the two week break on the WoO schedule had the #56 team looking at other options. Getting race experience is still an essential element of the team’s plan for 2009.

On Friday April 24, the King Motor Sports’ team decided to head to Lernerville Speedway, a track they have seen from time to time. They would be in full force as both Russ’ late model and the two big-block modified teams of Rex, Sr. and Cooter pulled out of their Bristolville garage.

Although Russ has raced at Lernerville several times in the modified, the only experience in a late model at this track was last year. They shook the ride down in hot laps and went out in the second heat starting third. Russ finished second to pole sitter Dave Hess. The redraw for the feature dropped the #56 back to a ninth starting spot for the feature. Once the green flag dropped, Russ quickly moved forward and was in fifth position by lap seven and into fourth on the thirteenth circuit. The track was rutting up and Russ picked up a flat and spun the following lap. Considering the track conditions and the fact this was not a WoO event, the team decided to call it a night.

The World of Outlaw’s Tour was set to roll into Chillicothe, Ohio’s K-C Raceway for a two day event on May 1 and 2. Heavy rains throughout the week forced an early cancellation of Friday’s schedule with the full event being moved to Saturday. However, it is May in Ohio and it was more of the same as additional rain and wet grounds prompted officials to cancel the event. They are looking at options to re-schedule later in the year.

Tri-City Speedway was hosting a ULMS Late Model event on May 3. Since K-C had cancelled, this was a logical choice to put in some seat time as the WoO Series will race at Tri-City over Labor Day weekend. As a change of pace, they decided to unload the back-up late model and Cooter would make his third appearance behind wheel of a late model.

Heat action saw Russ start third and finish second. The feature had him start mid-pack, tenth, of the twenty car field and he managed a seventh place finish. He was disappointed in his finish but there was not time to think about what could have been.

Cooter finished fifth in his heat and pulled off after six laps in the feature as they had accomplished the seat time they had set out for. It was a so-so night but the team managed a few laughs as it was discovered there were no plates when it was time to eat. Did you ever try eating chicken parm and pasta out of a cup? Just ask one of the crew about their experience.

Tuesday May 5 was a return to Lernerville for a WoO Tour race dubbed The Showdown at Sarver Town. Forty super late model teams pulled into the Western PA facility on a gloomy, overcast afternoon. There was rain heading that way but it was expected to stay south of the track.

The track was in great shape as the teams pulled onto the clay oval for hot laps and time trials. Russ timed in sixteenth which was his best WoO qualifying spot this year. Hopefully all of the hard work is beginning to pay off.

Russ started fourth in the fourth heat. Right from the green flag it was apparent he was intent on nailing down one of the transfer spots into the feature. He held off a strong charge from Lernerville stalwart, Dave Hess, to take the fourth spot and an automatic transfer spot into the feature.

It was good to be racing closer to home but it was even better to be locked into the feature. The evening was going well as Russ was the fastest qualifier of the six WoO Rookie of the Year candidates as well as being the only one to transfer out of his heat race.

Unfortunately the rains interrupted a positive evening of racing. A persistent drizzle twice stopped the second B-Main and eventually resulted in postponement of the night’s activities. The remaining events have been re-scheduled for June 25 the night before the two day Firecracker 100.

TV Time:
The SPEED TV crew interviewed Russ at Lernerville asking for his thoughts on the season thus far. I believe we will be hearing an announcement about the SPEED – WoO television schedule in the next week or so.

Up Next:
The next stop on the World of Outlaws Tour will take the King Motor Sports’ #56 to Indiana’s Lawrenceburg Speedway on Friday May16, followed by Lincoln Speedway in Illinois on Saturday. Additional races locally have not been decided on at this time.

Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, and Keizer Aluminum Wheels.

For additional information or to inquire about motorsport’s marketing opportunities with King Motor Sports, please contact Sis King (330)727-0565. http://www.kingbrosracing.com/

South Bound and Down
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BRISTOLVILLE, OH – April 31, 2009 - King Motor Sport’s trip to Fayetteville, NC was another first time visit to a race track on the WoO Late Model Tour. This has been the norm for the year and the team looks forward to a return visit in August.

Russ’s qualifying lap of 19.188 put him thirty-fifth of the thirty-nine drivers signed in for the evening. In his heat race he advanced from his ninth starting position to finish sixth. The B-Main saw Russ finish sixth and missing out on one of the transfer spots for the feature.

Russ and, crew chief, Bobby Bachman are hoping their notes and experience help out when the tour returns to Fayetteville for round two in August.

Fayetteville Images courtesy of Rhett Butler

The team then headed north to Bill Sawyer’s great facility in Jamaica, VA. Virginia Motor Speedway hosted the Rumble on the River V along with a Civil War re-enactment complete with an ear-splitting canon shot. This was Russ’s second trip to VMS, having competed there last year with the MACS Series.

Russ timed in thirty-seventh of the forty-six entrants. He rolled off tenth in the first heat and picked up two positions, finishing eighth. The #56 racer finished fifth in the B-Main after starting seventh. Unfortunately, for the second straight night, it was not quite enough to transfer into the feature.

The entire team still remains upbeat as they work through the difficult learning curve on the World of Outlaws Late Model Tour. Only one rookie candidate, Brent Robinsion, was able to qualify for  a feature over these two days of racing. Russ continues to hold onto the thirteenth spot in overall points and remains second in the chase for Rookie of the Year.

 Virginia Images by Sis King

TV Time:
After returning home, the King Motor Sport’s team participated in a pre-season TV promotion at Sharon Speedway. The promotion was hosted by Youngstown’s WFMJ TV 21 and Mike Case. The three part interview can be viewed on the stations web site. Mike Case ‘Live Today’ at Sharon Speedway Parts 1-3  

More Press:
Regional sport's writer Thomas Zuck has a story about Russ titled It's Good To Be An Outlaw in  Pittsburgh's Tribune-Review. The story covers some of Russ's experiences so far this year on the WoO Tour as well as previewing the WoO race at Lernerville next Tuesday, May5. You can check this excellent story at Pittsburgh Live - It's Good To Be An Outlaw. 

Up Next:
The next stop will be a two day event at K-C Raceway in Alma, OH on May 1 and 2 followed by an event closer to home at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, PA on Tuesday May 5.

Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, and Keizer Aluminum Wheels.

Farmer City and the Illini 100
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BRISTOLVILLE, OH – April, 8, 2009 - The King Bros Racing late model team headed to Farmer City anticipating a practice and media session on Thursday. Unfortunately, rain once again altered the schedule cancelling the night’s activity. Qualifying and heat races were on tap Friday with the B-Mains and feature to take place on Saturday night.

As will be the case for most of the stops on the WoO Late Model Tour, Farmer City Raceway was a new venue for Russell and crew. They are intensly taking notes which will be used on return trips to these tracks in the future. Dad, Rex Sr., traveled with the team on this trip. It was the first time since February that he was able to watch his son race. Rex was coming off of a season opening win with the BRP Modified Tour the previous weekend.

Friday’s weather was a cool and dry as fifty-one entries took to the dirt oval for practice. Russell qualified thirty-second which was the fastest of the ROY group. This time placed him into the second heat starting in sixth position. He picked up one spot during the race, finishing fifth in his heat gaining a fourth starting slot in the first B-Main.

Russell finished sixth in his B-Main. Although only the top two automatically transferred to the feature, he was added to the field via the WoO LM provisional rules. This put him at the tail of the feature starting in the twenty-fourth spot in the Illini 100.

The one hundred lap feature was a grueling event as the black dirt surface developed several deep ruts in the turns. Russell had moved up to the twentieth position when the checkered flag was thrown. He continues to gain valuable experience with the longer races and looks forward to capitalizing on this as the season moves forward.

One more candidate, Jordan Bland, was added to the list of those running for Rookie of the Year with the WoO Late Model Series bringing the number to six. Russell left Farmer City still locked into thirteenth in the overall point’s championship and second among the ROY drivers. 

Up Next:
If the weather co-operates, the #56 team is thinking about taking the back-up car to Lernerville on Friday, April 11 and possibly the open practice session at Sharon Speedway on Saturday. The WoO Late Model schedule resumes the following weekend with two events. First up will be Fayetteville Motor Speedway in Fayetteville, NC on Friday April 17. The following night the WoO tour will travel to Virginia Motor Speedway in Jamaica, VA.

Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, and Motul.

Doing A Rain Dance In Concord
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After more than two weeks on the road, the team headed for Atlanta for a stopover to visit friends of Sis, Russell’s mom. It provided a nice change of pace from the hectic schedule as they were also able to check out Atlanta’s aquarium. There was a bit of a celebration too as Russell and his girlfriend, Ashley Jackson, both celebrated their birthdays in the Peach State. 

Next on the schedule was one of dirt late model racing’s premier events, The Colossal, in Concord, NC. With many of the country’s best drivers in attendance, duplicating the thirteenth place finish in Texas would be a difficult task.

A steady rain greeted the team as they pulled into the Dirt Track at Charlotte. It rained all day Thursday and forecasts were not optimistic for the next two days. Some folks in the campgrounds decided to do a rain dance in an attempt to bring out the sun. It just rained harder! The dire weather prediction forced the track staff to postpone racing until Sunday. The previous two day schedule would now be completed in one day.

Despite the poor weather and revised schedule, sixty-three teams were getting their race cars ready early Sunday morning. Working around the mud and standing water did not deter anyone as the teams went about their business. The track crew had started prepping the surface about 2:00 AM shortly after the rain stopped. It might not have been the best of conditions, but it was great to see the sunshine.

Russell qualified thirty-first in the large field of cars. Passing was at a minimum during the heat races as most of the teams seemed to be looking for the correct tires for the daytime track conditions. Russell finished sixth of the eleven drivers in the first heat. This placed him into the B-Main where he ran a strong fourth thus gaining a transfer spot into the highly coveted Colossal 100 main event.

Starting deep in the talent laden field, Russell pulled into the pits after twelve laps using a common-sense approach to the weekend’s potential. Although the WoO teams did get championship points for participation, it was not otherwise a point’s event.

Worthy of note is the fact Russell was the only Rookie of the Year candidate to make the Colossal 100 field. This was an accomplishment in and of itself. The series Championship Points race stayed the same with the #56 team currently tied for thirteenth position.     

Up Next:
After a brief return to their Bristolville, OH home, the race team will be heading west to Farmer City Raceway over the April 3-4 weekend.  Track promoter Don Hammer is excited about the two day WoO Late Model show with qualifying and heats scheduled for Friday with the Illini 100 headlining Saturday night’s activity. Russell is looking forward to his first visit to the Clinton, IL oval.

Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, and Motul.

For additional information or to inquire about marketing opportunities for your business with King Bros. Racing, please contact Sis King. (330) 727-0565 www.kingbrosracing.com 

Time Out for the Texas Two-Step
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Using his seventeenth place finish at Alalbama's Deep South Speedway as a stepping stone, Russell was focused on making the big dance (the feature) at the next stop on the schedule, Battleground Speedway in Highlands, TX. Drivers from 17 states signed to take a stab at making Saturday night’s 24-car, Lone Star 100 field.

Russell is one of six drivers committed to running for the “Rookie of the Year” title with the World of Outlaws Series.  Friday night he qualified twenty-third of the thirty-three drivers as he and crew chief, Bobby Bachman, continue to search for the optimum qualifying set-up. The #56 racer was staged into the third heat, starting in the fifth slot behind Darrell Lanigan, Josh Richards, Rick Eckert and Brady Smith.  It looked like an uphill battle with only the top four drivers transferring directly into the feature.

Russell edged into the fourth slot only to trade paint with Richards dropping him back into a fifth place finish. This finish locked him into the pole position of his consi (B-Main) race where went on to lead flag to flag thereby gaining an elusive transfer spot into the feature.

Slotted in the seventeenth starting position for the main event, they knew the 100 lap distance would be a test of both speed and endurance. With the hammer down, Russell moved toward the front and crossed the finish line in thirteenth place. The race took just over 1 hour and 4 minutes to complete with nine interruptions for yellow flag cautions.

Russell’s finish in the feature garnered him the “Rookie of the Race” award while his B-Main win gave him one of the Eibach Spring product awards. More importantly, he moves up into a tie for the thirteenth spot in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Standings from his previous nineteenth position.

Up Next:
The King Bros Racing hauler will be turning around and heading toward home as the WoO Late Model Series continues with their “Month of Money” events. The next stopover will be Concord, NC for one of the premier events in dirt late model racing. The Colossal 100 IV is hosted at the Dirt Track at Lowes Motor Speedway on March 27 and 28. 

This event regularly has one of the largest and strongest fields during the season. This also makes it one of the most challenging on the schedule to make the feature race. The King Bros #56 team is eagerly anticipating the challenge.

Wrap Up:
King Bros Racing #56 team would like to thank their 2009 marketing partners A-1 Racing Products, King Bros Ready-Mix, Keizer Aluminum Wheels, and Motul.

Heading South For The “Showdown On The Gulf”
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Heading into action at Deep South Speedway, Russell and the #56 late model team had no idea what to expect. Not only was this the team’s first trip to the Loxley, AL facility, but very few of the series drivers had ever raced on the four-tenths mile oval.  There simply weren’t any notes available to work from.

The weekend schedule began with an open practice period on Thursday night in conjunction with a media session for the local writers and photographers. This was also the first ever World of Outlaws Late Model event at the track owned by Bill and Karen Webb. 

Friday night opened up with hot laps followed by qualifying in groups of three. Twenty-five of the forty-four drivers broke the previous track record of 16.062. Russell clocked in at 16.195. This was good enough for 29^th fastest of the 44 cars who signed in.

Russ was set to start eighth in his heat race. He was moving forward and avoided a tangle with a quick move to the high side. Smith and Eckert then got together in Turn 2 and Eckert came back down the track into King’s rear wheel, breaking the shock and sending him to the pits.

The heat race incident relegated the Bristolville, OH driver to a 13^th starting position in his Consi Race. With only the top 3 finishers advancing to the Feature event, it would be a formidable task. Weaving through traffic and using a couple of yellow flags to his advantage, Russell charged up to fifth position in a few short laps. He soon worked into the second position battling with Brent Robinson. When the checkers were thrown, he was solidly in the second slot, thus securing a start in the 40 lap feature.

Starting in the nineteenth spot among a very strong field was going to be another tough challenge. By lap 26, Russ had moved up to fifteenth. Unfortunately he encountered a flat tire two laps later. He alertly headed to the pits where the crew quickly changed the tire and got him back onto the track. Russell worked his way back up to finish seventeenth in “The Showdown on the Gulf.”

The #56 crew was excited about having a second chance at the track on Saturday night, but persistent rains forced a cancellation of activities. Friday’s crowd was the largest in Deep South’s five year history, so it was certainly a difficult decision for the officials. WoO and track officials will be in discussion about the possibility of a return to the track if a suitable opening can be found in the tour’s schedule.

Russell leaves Alabama in nineteenth place in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series Points Standings.

Russell King Returns From Winter Racing
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 The King Bros Racing late model team just returned from three weeks of intense racing in Georgia and Florida. The primary goals of the trip were met and there is a certainly a positive outlook for a productive 2009 season.

Russell and the #56 team encountered several obstacles but worked their way through them. With the decision to follow the World of Outlaw’s Late Model Tour and also compete for the Rookie of the Year in 2009, getting seat time and suspension set-up experience was the main focus of this trip. Racing with 60-75 of the top drivers from the top late model series in the country was expected to be a formidable task.

The Plan:
While very successful racing his big-block modified, Russell had only a combined 21 races behind the wheel of the late model, with all of those coming last year. The new 2009 Rocket chassis is considerably different than previous versions and set-up information was sketchy at best. The goal for winter racing was to get valuable seat time, obtain a better understanding of the new chassis and, all the while, avoiding accidents and the destruction of costly equipment.

Stage 1:
The first stop was at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA. The initial night of racing was rained out before qualifying was complete. GIS would prove to be a struggle for the team as they just could not seem to find the right set-up for this track. They were not alone as most of the teams running the new Rocket chassis were struggling as well. Russell and crew chief, Bobby Bachman, persevered and found a few answers by Saturday night, the third and final evening of racing.  Russell’s best finish was a ninth in his Consi event but gaining seat time would prove to be the real bonus at GIS.

Stage 2:
East Bay Raceway Park was not on the original schedule but Russell decided to fill in the nine day break before racing began at Volusia with a couple of nights at the Gibsonton, FL facility. They elected to pull out the 2007 car to see how it would handle. Performance was off as they missed the Feature on Thursday. A brush with the wall on Friday afternoon during qualifying led to a decision to pack up and head back to the east coast and get ready for the World of Outlaw’s opener at Volusia.

Stage 3:
There were six straight nights of racing scheduled at Volusia Raceway Park. Thursday and Saturday were World of Outlaws sanctioned events at the Barberville, FL speed plant. These two races were going to be what the trip was all about. Russell was determined to find the answers with the 2009 Rocket chassis. He and Bobby modified their set-ups until they found something that worked. On Saturday night Russell missed the transfer spot by one position as he finished fourth in his heat race. As had been the case for the past three weeks, the competition this night was some of the best teams from around the country. Russell started on the pole for his Consi race with former World 100 winners, Jimmy Owens and Dale McDowell, on his tail. Despite three re-starts for accidents, Owens and McDowell could not catch the Bristolville, OH teenager. The #56 team had found some of the answers! Unfortunately Russell’s luck was short lived as the engine expired when he came off of Turn 4 to take the flag with one lap to go.

Summary:
Although Russell had a Consi win and Feature transfer snatched from his grasp, the team has reason to be excited. The last race certainly was what the entire trip was all about. This team had competed with the best and proved their potential. Seat time was certainly valuable and will pay dividends during the upcoming season. The set-up notes are beginning to take shape and will be a key to the team’s performance.

Racing with the best drivers and teams from around the country was expected to be tough and it was. However, the progress made over three weeks was more than worthwhile. Other than the engine, there was very little damage to any of the equipment. Many teams were not that fortunate or successful.

The engine was dropped off on the trip home at Custom Race Engines in Knoxville, TN where disassembly should reveal the cause of the internal failure. Both race cars have already been torn down and completely cleaned. A thorough top to bottom inspection will take place with repairs being done as needed.

Up Next:
The rest from racing will be brief as the meat of the World of Outlaw’s Late Model Tour season approaches quickly. The team will soon begin a three week road trip beginning at Deep South Speedway in Loxley, AL on March 13 and 14. They will then head west to Battleground Speedway in Highlands, TX on March 20 and 21 followed by the Colossal 100 at the Dirt Track at Lowes Motor Speedway in Concord, NC on March 27 and 28. 

Press:
Several media outlets made their way to the #56 pit to interview Russell about his quest for the ROY with the World of Outlaws. There were interviews with SPEED Television, Dirt on Dirt, Rubber Racer and several motorsport’s writers as well. We have also been informed there will be a story in Dirt Late Model Magazine in the coming months.